By Alex Hoad

Maidstone United boss Peter Nott has given his side a striking boost with the capture of former Welling forward Tommy Whitnell.

The Stones have scored just eight goals in eight games in all competitions so far this season, with two of the tally coming from own goals, and midfielder Ant Bodle is their top scorer on three.

Striker Danny Hockton has scored in just one game and faces two weeks out with a groin strain so Nott, pictured, has swooped for the Wings hot-shot, who scored 15 goals in Blue Square South last season.

Nott said: "I was looking at Tommy in the summer when they brought in Andy Pugh and Luis Cumbers, but he was offered terms by Welling and wanted to stay there.

"We have kept in touch and after he agreed to leave them and, despite interest from teams in the division above, he came here."

Stones host Horsham in the Ryman League, Premier Division on Saturday looking to follow up last week's first win of the season at Kingstonian.

Whitnell will replace Hockton while James Peacock, Adam Marsh and Joe Vines are all suspended. Simon Pettit (knee) is a doubt while Jermaine Darlington, Ashley Ulph, Nick Davis and Marc Cumberbatch remain sidelined.

Meanwhile, the long-awaited takeover of the club is nearing completion.

Investor Oliver Ash has spent months negotiating with current chairman Paul Bowden-Brown about a change of ownership and talks are understood to be close to completion and a contract signed.